Re: Bladder cancer TCC Hi Guys', Thanks' for all your support and well wishes. I returned from my urologist with bad news. Nothing that wasn't expected. I asked my urologist how much time I had. He said 6 months without treatment or 12 months with treatment. I felt sorry for him to be put in a position of telling someone their terminal, not a good position to be in. He looked very uncomfortable about it all. I'll be more interested in my oncologist opinion on what time I have. I see him on the 30th March, about starting chemotherapy & or radiation. As you all know, cancer has a mind of it's own. I'm still optimistic of course. I've been reading my bible, it's helping me a lot mentally. What's the first thing you do when your planning a holiday. You read the brochures on where your going. That's what I'm doing, reading the brochure on my trip. I've written on the side of my bible. "Dads' Travel Brochure". Merkel (wife) & I are handling it well. We went out dancing on Friday & Saturday night. We do a lot of dancing, swing, jive, rock'n'roll & ballroom. We won Mr & Mrs Rock'n'Roll a few years back. I play guitar & bass, music gives me a lot of pleasure. We have a son, daughter and four grandchildren. I think it's harder on the children. Our son said, when I loose my hair he's going to buy me one of those plastic Elvis Presley wigs to go dancing in. Where would we be without humour. Wazza ... View more

Hi Guys', Thanks' for all your support and well wishes. I returned from my urologist with bad news. Nothing that wasn't expected. I asked my urologist how much time I had. He said 6 months without treatment or 12 months with treatment. I felt sorry for him, to be put in a position of telling someone their terminal, not a good position to be in. He looked very uncomfortable about it. I'll be more interested in my oncologist opinion on what time I have. I see him on the 30th March, about starting chemotherapy & or radiation. As you all know, cancer has a mind of it's own. I've been reading my bible, it's helping me a lot mentally. What's the first thing you do when your planning a holiday. You read the brochures on where your going. That's what I'm doing, reading the brochure on my trip. I've written on the side of my bible. "Dads' Travel Brochure". Merkel (wife) & I are handling it well. We went out dancing on Friday & Saturday night. We do a lot of dancing, swing, jive, rock'n'roll & ballroom. We won Mr & Mrs Rock'n'Roll a few years back. I play guitar & bass, music gives me a lot of pleasure. We have a son, daughter and four grandchildren. I think it's harder on the children. Our son said, when I loose my hair he's going to buy me one of those plastic Elvis Presley wigs to go dancing in. Where would we be without humour. Wazza ... View more

Hi Butterfly, Sound like you've had your share of problems too. I hope thing have improved for you. Thank you for your support. We've been married for 41 years. We work together like siamese twins. My wife is a very organised and strong person. The amount of chemotherapy & radiation she had, simultaneously, wow, and the way she handled it was unbelievable. Her oncologist told her she was his best patient. I've got a hard act to follow. See what goes today at the urologist. Wazza ... View more

Update on my Progress. Bladder cancer TCC Hi All, I've received my medical report, and things aren't working out too well for me. My TCC cancer has returned after four years. There's a mass of 38mm x 37mm x 36mm between my neobladder and my rectum. The tumour has penetrated my neobladder causing bleeding. I've had a catheter in a few times, due to my neobladder blocking with blood clots & mucus. I feel fine, look the picture of health. My specialist are having a meeting next week to see how their going to attack this. As its secondary, it will be palliative care. I have a friend that had the same operation as me about two years prior. He's doing fine. He hasn't had a problem since his operation. No sign of cancer what so ever, and he's in the best of health. Wazza ... View more

Hi, I'm sorry to hear about your dad's diagnoses. You asked, how long your dad has, I don't think anyone could answer that question. I know how devastating you must be, seeing what your dad is going through at the moment. I had bladder cancer, high grade, muscle invasive, it's over three years now, and I'm still here. My wife had lymph node metastasis six years ago, she's fine now. I'm sure your dad has a long way to go, and of course your worried about his outcome. The best advise I can give you, is, write down all your questions concerning your dad's health, then take that list to your dad's specialist. That way you won't forget to ask his doctor questions on matters that are worrying you. Don't be afraid to ask questions, doctors expect you to. Let me know how you go, Wazza ... View more

I've just read your post. Things aren't going too good for you at the moment. Have you contacted the cancer help line on 131120. They can help you in so many ways. You must tell the cancer council of all your concerns, so they can get the right help for you. You shouldn't be going through this stressful time on your own. You need to ask for help. The cancer council is the first stop for you. Think about all of your needs & write them down, have that list in front of you when you ring the cancer council, so you don't forget anything. Let me know how you go, Wazza ... View more

Hi All, I've received my medical report, and things aren't working out too well for me. My TCC cancer has returned after four years. There's a mass of 38cm x 37cm x 36cm  between my neobladder and my rectum. The tumour has penetrated my neobladder causing bleeding. I've had a catheter in a few times, due to my neobladder blocking with blood clots & mucus. I feel fine, look the picture of health. My specialist are having a meeting next week to see how their going to attack this. As its secondary, it will be palliative care. I have a friend that had the same operation as me about two years prior. He's doing fine. He hasn't had a problem since his operation. No sign of cancer what so ever, and he's in the best of health. Wazza ... View more

hi slipslop! my radical nerve sparing neo bladder cystectomy (sounds impressive, does'nt it?)  did'nt hurt at all, rather, it was mainly a lot of discomfort.  What gave me pain and literally the sh*ts was the fact that my bowels went on strike on the day of my hospital discharge. I've been told that I sometimes talk crap, well, the crap had only one place to exit  and that was via my mouth. I literally talked crap for about a week and lost about fourteen kilos in weight, otherwise I felt O.K.  All that added an extra week in hospital (three weeks in all.).......Speaking about catheters, I once pulled my own out, cut the little balloon part and slowly pulled it out....great party trick, but I don't think I would do it again......Enough about me.  I hope your radiation goes well on monday and   maybe another round of chemo is just what the doctor ordered!...another full response would be great. Considering what you are going through, you have a great attitude. Good vibes to you.  Wazza         ... View more